IMF Launches “How to Build a Better Future” Essay Contest for University Students in Latin America

Press Release No. 14/192
May 1, 2014

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) launched today an essay contest for undergraduate and graduate students in Latin American universities under the theme "How to Build a Better Future for Latin America." The contest, which is open to university students from all disciplines of study, focuses on the challenges that the region’s youth consider pressing for future generations and seeks their views on possible solutions. The official languages for the essay competition are Spanish, English, and Portuguese.

“We’re very pleased to kick off this initiative and have the opportunity to learn firsthand about the issues that matter to Latin America’s youth and the solutions they envisage to meet the challenges facing their generation,” said Alejandro Werner, the IMF’s Director for the Western Hemisphere. “We hope that we will receive many inspiring essays that will contribute to the debate on public policies to foster better prospects for the people in our region,” he added.

The contest is part of a series of “Road to Lima’ activities the IMF has planned in the region in the run-up to the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Peru in 2015.

Contest Rules

Students are invited to submit their essays (maximum 500 words) through June 30, 2014.

An evaluation committee comprised of IMF staff and regional partners will select the finalists. Their review will be based on criteria such as striking a balance of countries of origin; gender; equal representation of public and private universities; and academic diversity.

The finalists, who will be selected to travel to Washington DC to participate in the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in October 2014, will be invited to speak at the IMF’s Youth Dialogue Event during the Annual Meetings. This event is attended by thousands of government officials, journalists, civil society organizations, and invited participants from the academia and private sectors.